The
only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He
prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon
for help, but none seemed forthcoming.

Exhausted, he
eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect himself
from the elements, and to store his few possessions.

But then
one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in
flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened - everything was
lost. He was stunned with grief and anger.

"God, how could
you do this to me?" he cried.

Early
the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was
approaching the island. It had come to rescue him.

"How did you know
I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers.

"We saw
your smoke signal," they replied.

It's easy to get
discouraged sometimes when things appear to be going badly, but we shouldn't
lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and
suffering. Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground, it may
just be a smoke signal that summons the grace of God.